Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
02/27/2020 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB221 | |
| HB193 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 221 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 193-SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG
9:20:10 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 193, "An Act adding a second verse to the
official state song."
9:20:25 AM
Representative Andi Story, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 193. She paraphrased the written sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 193 makes official the second verse of the
Alaska State Flag Song, offering long overdue honor
and recognition to the First People of Alaska and
Alaska's diverse cultures. The verse recognizes the
history of Alaska's flag and its young thirteen-year
old designer, Benny Benson, while continuing the first
verse's theme celebrating the beauty of the land and
hope for the future.
It is fitting that the State of Alaska, which now
officially recognizes twenty native languages as well
as English as our State languages, to honor Alaska's
history that precedes western settlers' arrival.
Carol Beery Davis, an Alaskan pioneer and poet
laureate is the author of the second verse. Inspired
by her daughter and a friend, Connie Munro, who
expressed dissatisfaction that the song did not
acknowledge Alaska Natives, the original caretakers of
the land, she wrote the verse to recognize that
Alaska's history began long before sourdoughs arrived,
and all are now a part of the State's history.
Since it was written in 1987, there has been work
towards adoption of the second verse, but official
recognition has not yet been realized. With a new wave
of support from this generation's children, it is time
to do so.
Please join me in supporting the Alaska Flag Song in
celebrating Alaska's long and rich history.
9:22:40 AM
CAITLYN ELLIS, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 193 on behalf of Representative Story,
prime sponsor. She explained that the proposed legislation
would add a second verse to the Flag Song but would not require
both verses to be sung. She stated that the University of
Alaska Foundation holds the copyrights to the music and both
verses; the material was donated to the university by Eleanor
Dussenbury, the composer. The lyrics of the first verse were
written by Marie Drake, and the lyrics of the second verse were
penned by Carol Beery Davis. Ms. Ellis said that the university
holds these materials in the trust to the benefit of the
university and the public and maintains a neutral position on HB
193.
MS. ELLIS related that in the last week, a choir had been asked
to sing the Flag Song at a local event. The choir director
asked the event organizer whether the choir could sing the
second verse. The event organizer was advised by state
officials to answer no, because the second verse was not yet
official. Passage of HB 193 would allow groups to sing the
second verse at events, such as at the opening of Senate and
House floor session, and would allow the second verse to be
printed along with the first verse. Ms. Ellis said officially
adopting the second verse would tell a more complete story,
provide a full picture of Alaska, and honor all the cultures in
the state.
9:24:45 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN opened invited testimony on HB 193.
9:25:31 AM
HUNTER CARTE, Fifth-Grade Student, Glacier Valley Elementary
School, testified in support of HB 193. She said the proposed
legislation means being respectful to elders and kind and
inclusive to all Alaska Native cultures. Further, it would show
that if children put their minds to something and work hard,
"anything is possible." She encouraged the committee to "vote
'yes' for HB 193."
9:26:14 AM
FAITH CONTRERAS, Elementary Student, testified in support of HB
193. She introduced herself first in a Native Alaska language,
and then in English pointed out that the first verse of the Flag
Song mentions "the gold of the early sourdough's dreams" and
makes no mention of Alaska Natives, who have lived on the land
for thousands of years. She expressed pride in being an Alaska
Native but said she would be even prouder "to be included in the
second verse." She thanked the committee.
9:27:02 AM
SAHARA SHOEMAKE, Student, Glacier Valley Elementary School,
testified in support of HB 193. She gave three reasons to make
the second verse of the Flag Song official. First, she said it
is important for "not just children" to know who Benny Benson is
[the creator of the Alaska Flag design] and to learn that
working on dreams can have results. Second, she drew attention
to part of the second verse [on page 1, lines 11-12, of HB 193],
which read: "to share our treasures hand in hand, to keep
Alaska our Great Land." She described those words as "a little
welcome from Alaska for people who come" - a way to extend
honor, support, and respect. The third reason, she stated, is
that "the Alaska Natives are often forgotten." She pointed out
that the first verse says nothing about them. Benny Benson was
an Alaska Native. She said the second verse gives Alaska
Natives "more of a voice." She concluded, "I persuade you to
vote yes to HB 193."
9:29:11 AM
JUDAH MARR, Fourth-Grade Student, Glacier Valley Elementary
School, recognized the Auke Kwan people, "whose land we are
standing on today," and introduced himself in a Native Alaska
language and English. He said he strongly believes the second
verse of the Flag Song should be made official because it
recognizes the creator of the flag's design, Benny Benson, as
well as the Alaska Native people, "who were the first people of
this land." He encouraged the committee to support HB 193. He
announced that the students would sing both the first and second
verse of the Flag Song.
9:30:50 AM
[The students sang both verses of the Flag Song.]
9:33:47 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN thanked the students for their performance.
9:33:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON related a story of knowing Benny Benson
and introducing him and Dave Adler at an Elk's convention in
Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1972. He related that Mr. Adler had been
on the committee [in 1927] that chose the winning design.
Representative Thompson said he got to introduce the two men,
who had never previously met.
9:34:38 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND expressed gratitude to the students for being
present. She noted that it was students who helped name the
Alaska State Dog, the malamute. She said Benson Boulevard in
Anchorage is named after Benny Benson and a memorial to the flag
itself is at the corner of Minnesota Drive and Benson Boulevard.
She said, "We should be able to add this ... verse to the Flag
Song, and it's totally appropriate that a bunch of school kids
are going to help us do this."
9:36:13 AM
CONNIE MUNROE remarked that she had never before heard school
students testify before the legislature, and she considered the
experience a gift. As a point of interest, she remarked that
the sourdoughs addressed in the song were outsiders and her
daughter, who works for Donlin Gold, LLC, in Anchorage, recently
hired 100 Alaska Natives to open a gold mine. She offered her
educational background and experience speaking with
superintendents around the state, where she found "all of them
used the second verse in their graduation and for special
activities, too." She talked about those who have attempted to
garner support for the second verse, including the late Senator
Bettye Davis and the Alaska Native Sisterhood and Brotherhood.
MS. MUNROE said she lost her job in the early '80s and was about
to leave the state to take another job, and that is when Carol
Beery Davis wrote "this song"; it was a farewell gift. Ms.
Munroe ended up getting her job back and remaining in Alaska.
She continued:
The song just moved me. I refused to sing it until
the indigenous people were recognized, and that's how
this all came about.
MS. MUNROE indicated there had been support from the House and
Senate in the past; however, "there was one person that thought
the second verse was not to his liking." She said she pleaded
with this person to find someone "to write another one." She
continued:
Our legislators at that time said, "We will not hold a
contest because it'll open up a can of worms. Instead
we'll wait for someone to ... write it and present it
to us." And so, that's how that happened. And that's
why Carol wrote it.
MS. MUNROE urged the committee to support HB 193.
9:41:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked Ms. Munroe what her relationship is
to the woman who wrote the second verse of the Flag Song.
MS. MUNROE answered, "Her daughter was my best friend." She
talked about what an incredible person Ms. Beery Davis was. She
mentioned a book, The Totem Song, which she said is the first
book published with Alaska Native songs and is available at the
Alaska State Library. Shared that she was nervous. She shared
that she is 85 and just learned she is cancer free.
9:43:20 AM
ANNE C. FULLER testified in support of HB 193. She said as a
storyteller, she ponders over words, which matter. She said she
thinks the printing and singing of the second verse "will touch
our minds." She predicted that people would consider the words,
"no bars among our cultures." She recalled the advice of
Elizabeth Peratrovich that people speak their intent to help
overcome discrimination. She urged the committee to "please
move this bill along."
9:45:09 AM
LAURIE HEGGIE, PhD, Music Teacher, Glacier Valley Elementary
School, expressed appreciation to Representative Story for
listening to the students and sponsoring HB 193. She indicated
that not all the students who wanted to testify today were able
to do so. She said the day before [students] had presented at
"the Innovation Summit" to show the power of people working
together to effect change, and following the presentation, one
of the students remarked on the diversity of cultures present.
Dr. Heggie tied that into how the second verse of the Flag Song
illustrates inclusivity. She thanked the committee for
listening to the children describe what the second verse means
to them.
9:47:30 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN explained the process of hearing a bill twice in
committee to the children present, and said the committee would
hear HB 193 a second time at its next meeting.
9:48:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she remembered hearing the Alaska
Native Sisterhood sing the second verse in the past, and she
said she knew there was "a deep longing to have the second verse
become part of our state song." She said she heard sincerity in
the students' descriptions of what the words mean to them.
Hearing them and knowing how many people in the past wanted [the
second verse recognized] made it easy for her to sponsor HB 193.
She expressed having a connection with Ms. Beery Davis, having
been her home health aide at one time. She said the second
verse moves her because it recognizes all cultures in Alaska.
She urged the committee to pass HB 193 out of committee.
[Due to technical issues, the following is available only on the
MP3 audio from House Records on BASIS, not the Media Services
audio/video.]
9:52:41 AM
[Students performed a rap song they created in support of making
the second verse of the Flag Song an official version of the
song.]
9:54:01 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN thanked the student and teacher presenters for
their efforts in coming before the committee today.
[HB 193 was held over.]